Job Description
Farm Stock Worker
Please see our website, (www.wellgatefarm.org) for an application form.
Closing date for applications: 09:00am – Monday 24th July 2023
This is a fantastic opportunity to be a part a vibrant and locally unique community resource, joining a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.
Wellgate Community Farm is seeking a new Stock Worker to be responsible for the day-to-day care and welfare of the animals.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about farming and the natural environment and has experience of animal husbandry. They will also have the skills to work with people of all ages and abilities, the desire to enthuse and help them grow as individuals at the farm and the ability to work well under pressure.
We need someone who is client/customer focused and can ensure that the farm is a safe, welcoming and enjoyable place for people to visit and volunteer. They will need an awareness and understanding of Health & Safety, safeguarding and legislation set by regulatory bodies such as DEFRA and APHA.
The post holder will also require a full driving license and will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
Job Description
Background Information
Founded in 1982, Wellgate Community Farm is a working urban farm, with animals and gardens. This 40 year old community resource is well utilised by the people and schools of the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and the South Essex area. The Farm exists as a focus for community; creating an opportunity for people to grow, make a positive contribution and promote social cohesion.
We aim to:
Provide an educational experience which connects people with food and the land and promotes compassionate farming and environmental sustainability.
Engage the community, including those who are marginalised, in meaningful activity.
Create a sense of community and belonging where people can develop and be valued.
In the highly competitive world of 21st Century London, some people are being left behind and experience social isolation. At the same time, many of us feel cut off from our natural environment. We provide opportunities to reconnect people with their natural environment and with their community. Those at the margins particularly benefit, telling us that caring for the natural world and observing its cycles of renewal and growth inspires their belief in their own potential for change and encourages them to nurture themselves in order to develop.
To meet these needs, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive place for people to develop emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually through education, training, therapy and recreation in a working farm setting.
To achieve this, the farm operates as a free, open-access project 365 days a year, welcoming an estimated 18,000 visitors. We offer year-round events and activities to local people:
· Our experienced and qualified staff enable and support volunteering opportunities for people of all ages, skills, and abilities. Volunteers play a crucial role at the Farm being both beneficiaries and a vital resource that enables the Farm to provide many other activities. We offer a wide range of opportunities including gardening, animal care, education, crafting, farm shop, and administration. Longer-serving volunteers have opportunities to take on team leading and peer mentor roles. In 2019/20 our 100+ volunteers contributed 3,037 days of work.
· For young people (8-18) the Farm provides a Young Farmers' club, placements for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Work Experience including a regular work programme for students of Special Educational Needs schools. In partnership with nearby Lambourne End Centre, we offer "Hands-On", an accredited training programme for young people. Those with low self-esteem or confidence, aspiring to work within the animal care industry or who find classroom education challenging particularly benefit from participation in the programme.
· Our Education Programme supports the national curriculum across a broad range of subjects by bringing our mobile farm into classrooms, hosting class visits, running egg-incubation projects in schools, and supporting teachers to integrate outdoor learning into their classrooms. We also run on site meet, greet and learning opportunities targeted for early years, young children and their families/carers.
· We also provide therapeutic opportunities both onsite and via mobile visits to care homes.
Purpose of Job
· To ensure that the farm fulfils its obligations to be open by being responsible for the day to day monitoring of the yard.
· To be responsible for the care and welfare of the animals.
· To ensure the implementation of animal welfare and stocking policies
· To ensure adherence to legislation and regulatory requirements including those set by HSE, DEFRA, APHA and ICO.
· To share responsibility for the Health and Safety of all Farm users and visitors.
· To take responsibility for specific lead areas including Animal Welfare, Animal Boarding and the Farm’s Animal Shares adoption scheme.
· To support students, trainees, and volunteers, and further each individuals progress
· To support the delivery of education, training, recreational and therapeutic programmes.
· To ensure all manual and computer records are maintained and that accurate information is collected
· To help promote the farm to generate interest from individuals, schools, referral agencies and local authorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
· To implement the farm’s animal welfare, stocking policies with appropriate practices ensuring compliance with regulations from external authorities.
· To ensure the implementation of Farm procedures relating to the welfare of animals
· To oversee suitability, safety and cleaning of all animal housing and paddocks reporting any maintenance needs.
· To be responsible for animal medication and record keeping of animals, including vaccinations and routine treatments.
· To be responsible for the stocking of feed, bedding, medication, treatments and other necessities to maintain and improve animal welfare
· To inform other staff of welfare concerns and any medical treatments, food changes or procedural changes relating to the animals.
· To ensure that animals are ready and suitable for visits, events and training working within the farms animal welfare policy.
· Promote a positive community atmosphere and a safe, clean and tidy working environment.
· Work within Farm policies and procedures ensuring suitable risk assessments, practices and resources are established and used.
· Work with other staff to organise and plan appropriate activities for students, trainees, and volunteers providing technical supervision through demonstration, instruction, support, and assessment where necessary.
· To cover the delivery educational visits both on and off site, as needed.
· Support the recruitment and induction of volunteers to ensure farm is as widely used, inclusive and beneficial as possible.
· Monitor and evaluate individual’s progress and be responsible for the implementation of disciplinary procedures as appropriate.
· To be responsible for the Animals Share scheme, maintaining database, reviewing materials used to promote Animal Shares and information sent out to sharers. Work with Farm Co-Managers to send out quarterly updates on the adoption animals.
· To support the organisation and running of Farm fundraising events.
· Train staff, as appropriate, in the administrative processes within lead areas and share relevant information with all staff to ensure animal welfare is maintained and long term plans implemented.
· Carry out all administrative tasks associated with the role including the monitoring and evaluation of lead areas, providing written reports as required and attending meetings as appropriate.
· Support customer care by dealing with telephone, email, and visitor enquiries; ensuring accurate messages are taken and allocated to staff as required.
· Undertake appropriate training and any other duty consistent with the development of the Farm.
General
- To operate in accordance with the ethos of the farm and within the farm policies and those of partner organisations and the Farm’s development/ business plan.
- To evaluate and monitor progress
- To drive farm vehicles as appropriate
- To be qualified in First Aid
The above mentioned duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the Stock Worker may be required to carry out other such duties as deemed necessary by the Farm Manager or Board of Trustees through the Chairman.
Person Specification
Essential
1. Experience of working with and managing a variety of animals
2. Knowledge and understanding of animal husbandry and the ability to impart this knowledge
3. Knowledge, understanding and practical experience of working within regulations set by authorities including DEFRA and APHA
4. Ability to develop ideas in conjunction with staff team, to work on own initiative and skills to communicate effectively with all teams
5. A collaborative approach that can enthuse others of all ages and abilities
6. Has a passion for inspiring people through outdoor learning
7. The ability to deliver inclusive farm and environmental activities
8. The organisational ability to plan and co-ordinate activities
9. Administration and IT skills essential for monitoring and recording, and report writing.
10. An awareness and understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable Adults
11. Willingness to work flexible hours, which will include evenings and weekends.
12. Willingness to undergo any training to improve and develop skills
13. A state of health which would enable completion of the duties of this physically demanding post.
14. A clean driving license and the ability/willingness to drive with trailer
Desirable
To be qualified in first aid
To have skills or qualifications in maintenance
A recognised qualification in animal husbandry or care
A knowledge of vocational learning.
An awareness of the financial restraints and flexibility of a small voluntary organisation
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 21 per week
Salary: £12,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Schedule:
COVID-19 considerations:
Visitors restricted to outside yard area and some animal sheds. Handwashing facilities available.
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Romford: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 24/07/2023
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